The Edison Family: Parents, Wife and Children of Thomas Edison
The Family Behind America's Favorite Inventor​
Thomas Edison’s family shaped both his character and his career. His parents fostered curiosity, his first marriage anchored his early years, and his second marriage gave him stability at the height of his fame. His six children carried the Edison spirit into politics, science, entrepreneurship, and public service.
Samuel Edison
Father of Thomas Edison
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Born in Nova Scotia, Samuel led a restless life, working as a roofer, tailor, tavern keeper, and more. In 1837 he joined the Mackenzie Rebellion in Ontario and fled to the U.S. after its failure. Settling in Milan, Ohio, he and Nancy raised seven children, including Thomas, their youngest. Samuel lived to see his son’s rise and even oversaw construction of Menlo Park.
Nancy Elliott Edison
Mother of Thomas Edison
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Nancy, daughter of a Revolutionary War hero, was educated and devoutly Presbyterian. She believed in the power of learning and personally tutored young Thomas when he left school. Edison credited her entirely with shaping his character, later saying, “My mother was the making of me.” She died in 1871, but her influence carried through his entire career.
Mary Stilwell Edison
First wife of Thomas Edison
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Mary Stilwell married Thomas Edison on Christmas Day, 1871. Known for her quiet support during Edison’s early breakthroughs, she managed family life while he built his first laboratories. Together they had three children—Marion, Thomas Jr., and William—before Mary’s untimely death at only 29.​
Mina Miller Edison
Second wife of Thomas Edison
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Mina Miller married Edison in 1886 and became the guiding force at Glenmont, the Edison family estate. She raised three children, cared for her stepchildren, and managed the household as its self-described “home executive.” Beyond family life, Mina was deeply active in civic organizations like the DAR, Audubon Society, and School Garden Association of America, earning a reputation as a leader in her own right.
Marion Edison Oeser
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Marion, nicknamed “Dot,” was Edison’s eldest child with Mary Stilwell. After her mother’s death, she often accompanied her father, even running errands for him as a girl. Known for her sharp wit, Marion claimed she saw Edison propose to Mina Miller in Morse code. Later in life she married Karl Oeser and lived abroad for many years.
Thomas Edison Jr.​
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Known as “Dash,” Thomas Jr. struggled to live up to his famous name. He attended elite schools but bounced between ventures, some of which his father publicly disapproved of. His personal life was equally turbulent, including multiple marriages. Despite his challenges, he remained a recognizable public figure as Edison’s namesake.
William Edison​
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William, the youngest child of Edison’s first marriage, studied at Yale’s Sheffield Scientific School. He served in both the Spanish-American War and World War I, demonstrating a sense of duty that set him apart from his siblings. William later married Blanche Travers, but lived more privately than his brother Dash or his sister Marion.
Madeleine Edison Sloan
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Madeleine, nicknamed “Toots,” was Edison and Mina Miller’s first child. Independent and witty, she defied her parents’ expectations by marrying aviator John Eyre Sloane instead of a wealthy industrialist. Together they had four sons, Edison’s only grandchildren. Madeleine was active in politics and philanthropy, and even ran briefly for Congress in 1938.
Charles Edison
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Charles was the most accomplished Edison child. After studying at MIT, he became president of Thomas A. Edison, Inc. and later entered public service. He served as U.S. Navy Secretary under Franklin D. Roosevelt, then as Governor of New Jersey in 1940. Charles also founded the Charles Edison Fund, which supports innovation and education, and was inducted alongside his father into the New Jersey Hall of Fame.
Theodore Edison
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Theodore, the youngest Edison child, was nicknamed the “little laboratory assistant” as a boy. He studied physics at MIT and was the only Edison child to graduate from college. He earned more than 80 patents, founded his own research lab, and became a passionate environmentalist and advocate for Zero Population Growth, leaving a legacy of innovation and activism.
"When in doubt, do right."
Charles Edison Fund
Started by Edison's son in 1948, the Charles Edison Fund is the family foundation dedicated to carrying forward the Edison legacy. The Fund supports innovation in science, technology, medical research, and historic preservation, manages the family’s intellectual property, and remains committed to Glenmont, the Edison family home.